Rodale Inc.’s Runner’s World, the most influential active lifestyle media brand in the world, today announced the launch of its 3rd annual Runner’s World Cover Search, a nationwide search for two exemplary runners – one male and one female – who are passionate athletes with stories that inspire, motivate, and enlighten. This year’s Cover Search invites readers to share their BREAKTHROUGH RUNNING MOMENT… the day they considered themselves runners, took their running to the next level, nailed a PR, or any moment that changed their running lives forever.

Kicking off with a national call for entries at RunnersWorld.com/CoverSearch, the annual competition looks for runners who are fit, athletic, and dedicated, and who are inspiring others to be the best they can be. The winners, selected by a panel of judges and readers’ votes, will be featured on the cover of the December 2016 issue of Runner’s World, will be outfitted from head to toe in Brooks apparel and shoes, and will join Runner’s World in New York for the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon.

““We are looking for two awe-inspiring runners to appear on the December cover of Runner’s World,” said David Willey, Editor-in-Chief. “There are so many incredible stories in the running community – so many lives transformed by running – and we look forward to sharing these inspirational and motivational breakthrough moments with millions of people.”

The 2016 RW Cover Search is live now and readers can vote for their favorite contestant once per day.

Last year, more than 1,600 runners applied to be on the cover of the special Reader’s Issue. The judges, narrowed down the field from 100 semifinalists to 10 finalists, whom they interviewed via Skype. The two ultimate winners–Michelle Hercules Walker and Bobby Gill–appeared on the December 2015 covers of Runner’s World, which were revealed live on NBC’s Today Show. Willey called the contest one of the hardest – and most inspiring – editing jobs in his career.

For more information about the contest, visit RunnersWorld.com/CoverSearch, follow us on Twitter (@runnersworld) and Facebook (Runner’s World Magazine) and search the hashtag #RWCoverSearch for updates on the contest.

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About Runner’s World. Rodale Inc.’s Runner’s World, the largest and most influential media brand in the running space, is the essential guide for everyone who runs. The brand provides all runners—men and women, from beginners to hardcore marathoners—with the advice and information they need to pursue their goals, the inspiration and entertainment they crave, and a sense of authentic community they won’t find anywhere else. Runner’s World is everywhere its readers and customers are—in print, online, on-screen and on the ground. Through authentic events such as the award-winning Runner’s World Half & Festival and Runner’s World Classic, as well as the Runner’s World VIP program, Runner’s World editors forge deep connections and have meaningful interactions with our readers as an organic part of the running community. Runner’s World publishes 19 international editions: Argentina, Australia/New Zealand, Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States. For digital updates, visit RunnersWorld.com, or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.